Ion Plasma Electron Gun Research

Abstract

Experiments have been run and a comprehensive theoretical model developed which have enabled a more complete characterization of the ion plasma electron gun. The experiments provided important high current data on the operation of the gun and of the thin-wire discharges. The theoretical model included consideration of fifteen different reactions between helium atoms and ions and electrons and calculated the particle fluxes and the electric potential as a function of position in the high-voltage region. These calculated quantities described accurately the behavior of the gun at a beam voltage of 110 kV and enable a projection of operation of the e-gun at high voltages, such as 400 keV, with a beam current of 10 A/sq cm where the gun will be useful to pump excimer lasers. A qualitative understanding was obtained of the transient behavior of both the e-gun and of the scaling properties of the thin-wire discharges.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 09, 1977
Accession Number
ADA048621

Entities

People

  • A. J. Palmer
  • William M. Clark Jr.

Organizations

  • HRL Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computer Programs
  • Current Density
  • Electric Fields
  • Emission
  • Energy
  • Excimer Lasers
  • Field Emission
  • Glow Discharges
  • High Voltage
  • Low Voltage
  • Mean Free Path
  • Particle Flux
  • Power Supplies
  • Production
  • Secondary Emission
  • Space Charge
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics